6 replies to this topic

[unbreakable]

What do you think about taking low doses of carvedilol daily? It's a combined alpha/beta blocker, lowering blood pressure and pulse rate. It's metabolites are very potent antioxidants.

Carvedilol is approximately 10 fold more potent as an antioxidant than vit. E. Several metabolites of carvedilol are extremely potent antioxidants being 30 to 80 fold more potent as carvedilol and up to 1000 fold more potent than vit. E

Feuerstein, G., N. Shusterman, R. Ruffolo, 1997. Carvedilol update IV: prevention of oxidative stress, cardiac remodeling and progression of congestive heart failure. Drugs of Today 33: 453–457.

Edited by unbreakable, 07 April 2009 - 08:39 PM.

[edward]

Yuck, alpha/beta blocker no thanks!

Unless you really really really need this for a medical condition look for different options.

[shaggy]

Yuck, alpha/beta blocker no thanks!

Unless you really really really need this for a medical condition look for different options.

Not the most constructive feedback?

I took carvedilol for a couple of years at 12.5mg BID, I took this to replace the propranolol I have been prescibed for tachycardia. It was effective at controlling my symptoms with no side effects to report really. It was easy coming of it too, no nasty withdrawal episodes.

From the literature I've read it does have beneficial effects on the heart and circulatory system, so if one is genetically prone to CHD it might be worth considering as a preventative measure.

[unbreakable]

Carvedilol can everything that Propranolol can - and more. @edward: Some people on this forum are taking prescription drugs or even research chemicals bought over the internet without a medical condition justifying that. Take into consideration that many people (in the general population and on this board) have "normal" blood pressure readings. But lowering their BB a little bit further with low dose Carvedilol could probably prolong their live time. As it is an unselective alpha/beta blocker which is able to cross the blood brain barrier it can also help with stress and anxiety disorders. On top of that some of it's metabolites are 1000 times stronger antioxidants than vitamin E.

[nameless]

I've been taking Carvedilol, 12.5, BID for about four years now. I have no other beta blockers to compare it to, but I wouldn't say it's exactly side effect free. If a person has a heart issue, especially with a high pulse rate or maybe anxiety, I can see it being worthwhile. Although for those with high blood pressure I think most doctors consider an ACE inhibitor or ARB the first line of defense -- and they have some preventative benefits of their own too. Altace may be a better preventative measure, and they even have a study where it's used for that purpose.

I noticed some side effects once I went over the 6.25, BID mark. Mostly hypotension and some dizziness. The side effects weren't too bad, but I wouldn't just gulp them down like vitamins.

If your blood pressure is 'iffy', that is, borderline high, or you have a high pulse, I can see speaking to your doctor about low dose Carvedilol and see what he/she says. The 3.125 BID dose felt the same as taking a sugar pill, so at that level I doubt it'd really cause side effects in most people. But I don't know if that dose would have any benefits either.

Edited by nameless, 09 April 2009 - 04:59 PM.

[shaggy]

I've been taking Carvedilol, 12.5, BID for about four years now. I have no other beta blockers to compare it to, but I wouldn't say it's exactly side effect free. If a person has a heart issue, especially with a high pulse rate or maybe anxiety, I can see it being worthwhile. Although for those with high blood pressure I think most doctors consider an ACE inhibitor or ARB the first line of defense -- and they have some preventative benefits of their own too. Altace may be a better preventative measure, and they even have a study where it's used for that purpose.

I noticed some side effects once I went over the 6.25, BID mark. Mostly hypotension and some dizziness. The side effects weren't too bad, but I wouldn't just gulp them down like vitamins.

If your blood pressure is 'iffy', that is, borderline high, or you have a high pulse, I can see speaking to your doctor about low dose Carvedilol and see what he/she says. The 3.125 BID dose felt the same as taking a sugar pill, so at that level I doubt it'd really cause side effects in most people. But I don't know if that dose would have any benefits either.

Why have you been taking carvedilol for 4 years?

Carvedilol is normally prescirbed for heart failure or hypertension, it's not normally prescribed for anxiety or a general high pulse rate. It's reduction on resting heart rate is minimal compared to drugs like propranolol, especially at increased dosages.

Carvedilol shows extremely positive effect on heart function and the circulatory system, ok..hypotension maybe a side effect if you have low blood pressure to begin with. But then again, hypotension is a lot less likely to have a negative impact on your health compared to hypertension. What were your blood pressure numbers like when dosing at 12.5 mg BID?

There are copious amounts of studies on PUBMED which making very interesting reading indeed regarding carvedilol and I don't think it should so readily dismissed as a life extension aid or health optimiser.

[nameless]

Why have you been taking carvedilol for 4 years?

Carvedilol is normally prescirbed for heart failure or hypertension, it's not normally prescribed for anxiety or a general high pulse rate. It's reduction on resting heart rate is minimal compared to drugs like propranolol, especially at increased dosages.

Carvedilol shows extremely positive effect on heart function and the circulatory system, ok..hypotension maybe a side effect if you have low blood pressure to begin with. But then again, hypotension is a lot less likely to have a negative impact on your health compared to hypertension. What were your blood pressure numbers like when dosing at 12.5 mg BID?

I take it for cardiomyopathy. My blood pressure before taking it was pretty much normal, or maybe high-normal on occasion.

I wouldn't suggest taking it just for anxiety or even high pulse rate, but if you have to take a beta blocker, Carvedilol probably would be the best one. But I can't say if Carvedilol would be better than an ACE inhibitor or ARB for most people, for hypertension issues alone.

And a low dose regimen possibly could have benefits or work as a preventative in otherwise healthy people, but I admit I never researched that aspect of it.

Here is an interesting study on slowing heartrate via beta blockers and increased risk of cardiovascular incidents --

http://www.theheart....ticle/913561.do

Atenolol is probably the culprit here, but other beta blockers could have the same problem. Nebivolol and Carvedilol may be exceptions, due to their vasodilating properties.

Edited by nameless, 09 April 2009 - 11:01 PM.